Considering the Environmental Impact of Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery

ObjectiveWe sought to calculate the waste generated by cleft lip and palate (CL/P) procedures and to increase awareness of the environmental impact of our speciality.DesignWaste from 5 CL/P procedures was categorised into 5 streams and weighed. A carbon calculator tool was used to convert weight of waste in to estimated carbon emission over a 12-month period.SettingThe study was carried out in a university teaching hospital.Patients and ParticipantsThis was an assessment of the waste produced from 5 paediatric CL/P procedures.Main Outcome MeasuresWeight of waste produced as result of CL/P procedures, measured in kilograms (kg); weight of CO₂, measured in kg.ResultsWe found that 768.5 kg of surgical waste was generated by CL/P procedures at our centre annually. This equates to 2653 kg of CO₂.ConclusionsThis study serves as a reminder of surgeons' responsibility to oversee how the waste we produce is disposed of.